Paper seamless circular tubular knitted product



Oct. 25, 1955 R. H. MARKS 2,721,462

PAPER SEAMLESS CIRCULAR TUBULAR KNITTED PRODUCT Filed May 29, 195s 2 sheets-sneer 1 I: :nl 1 FEE- 5 FL-T. E l 6 e 9 ATTORNY R. H. MARKS Oct. 25, 1955 PAPER SEAMLESS CIRCULAR TUBULAR KNITTED PRODUCT Filed May 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Shee t. 2

I LEI- .15

IIT- LE INVENTOR ATTORNE United States Patent O PAPER SEAMLESS CIRCULAR TUBULAR KNITTED PRODUCT Ronald H. Marks, Dallas, Tex. Applicata May 29, 1953, serial No. 358,341

12 claims. (C1. 66-17o) My invention relates broadly to paper products and more particularly to a new product of manufacture comprising a seamless knitted paper-mesh tubing.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a seamless circular tubular knitted assembly of paper strand material initiallyl knitted in a longitudinally extending collapsed state in lengths of the order of five hundred feet, or more, and capable of being cut to required lengths to serve as receptacles or containers for various types of foods by simply closing the ends of the cut sections by stapling, sewing or gluing, for forming laterally stretchable vpaper bags. Another object of my invention is to provide a seamless circular tubular knitted assembly of paper strand material having their axes extending predominately longitudinally of the axis of the product in packed position and being capable of stretching in a lateral direction to provide an open-mesh paper casing for various applications.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a seamless circular tubular knitted assembly of paper strand material which may be transported as a compact winding on a r'eel where the packed product has a width of the order of two and one-half to three inches and which is capable, when placed in use, of being stretched laterally to a width of the Vorder of nineteen inches.

-A further object of my invention is to provide a seamless knitted paper-mesh tubing which may be formed and shaped in a compact state and stretched laterally to meet various applications, the knitted paper-mesh being formed from paper strand material initially knitted in longitudinally extending chain-like elements capable of mutual sliding displacement to form substantially polygonally shaped openings when the product is stretched with the major axes of the openings extending longitudinally and increasingly transversely, the openings having dimensions of theorder of three-eighths by three-sixteenths of an inch -for supporting goods within the stretched product, while offering minimum obstruction to the penetration of air or smoke from the outside to the goods encased within the product.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a y seamless circular 'tubular knitted assembly of paper strand material capable of being laterally stretched from a coli lapsed state to an expanded state and having a tensile strength, for example, in a thirty-six inch length of knitted paper tubing, capable of withstanding weights of the order of thirty-tive to forty pounds.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a construction of a seamless circular tubular knitted product formed from paper material constituted by paper strands which are twistedbefore knitting and which may be impregnated with a non-toxic oil of high viscosity or al coating having plastic properties for adapting the paper receptacle formed by the product to particular applications.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a seamless circular tubular knitted assembly of paper strand rnaterial, particularly adapted as a casing for rneat and ice meat products for use in the smoking of meats, such as ham, bacon, and sausages.

Other and further objects and applications of my invention will appear more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a paper strand or yarn used in the knitting of the paper product of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic View illustrating one method of impregnating the paper strand or yarn with a non-toxic oil of high viscosity or a coating with plastic properties;

Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which the paper strand or yarn is twisted for obtaining additional tensile strength;

Fig. 4 is a view of a fragmentary portion of a seamless circular tubular knitted paper product formed from paper strand material in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, on an enlarged scale for purposes of clearly illustrating the seamless characteristics of the knitted paper product of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating sections of the seamless circular tubular knitted product of Fig. 4, cut to size, and the ends of each of the sections closed by stapling, sewing or gluing, for forming the cut sections into bags;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a fragmentary part of the seamless circular knitted tubular assembly of paper strands, showing particularly the manner in which the knitted elements of the paper strands extend predominately longitudinally of the axis of the product when knitted;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7 for further illustrating the relatively long paper elements constituting the paper strands in the knitted product and the relative wide spacing of the laterally extended transverse strands of the paper strand material forming the initiall knitted product;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on line 9--9 of Fig. 7, illustrating the relatively close spacing of all of the longitudinally extending paper elements of the knitted product when initially knitted;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating the seamless circular tubular knitted assembly of the paper strands of the paper strand material when they are laterally stretched for expanding the openings between the paper elements of the knitted product, the View when compared with Fig. 7 showing one of the characteristics of the paper product of my invention where the paper elements are stretchable laterally to form substantially polygonally shaped openings having their major axes extending substantially transversely of the longitudinally extending paper strands;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 11 11 of Fig. l0, this view being comparable with the view illustrated in Fig. 8 to show the foreshortening state of the spaces between the laterally disposed paper strands when the knitted product is stretched;

Fig. l2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 10, the view being comparable with the view illustrated in Fig. 9 for illustrating the displacement between the longitudinally extending paper strands when the knitted paper product is laterally stretched;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view illustrating the seamless circular tubular knitted paper product of my invention applied as a bag for encasing and suspending a ham or other meat product during a smokehouse treatment;

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the paper-encased ham or meat product illustrated in Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 illustrates the application of the seamless circular tubular knitted paper product of my invention in the smoking of hams in a smokehouse operation.

My invention is directed to a new product of manu- 3 facture which consists of seamless knitted paper-mesh tubing. This tubing can be cut to given or desired lengths, one end closed by stapling, sewing or gluing, and thus formed into bags.

This seamless paper-mesh, either in tubing or bag form, has unusual characteristics in the fact that from its original knitted width in the range of two and onehalf inches to three inches, it will stretch laterally to approximately nineteen inches in width. The unusual lateral stretch of the bag has very marked advantages which can be applied to many tields in the packaging and covering of food and other products.

Because of the small initial lateral size o f the paper product of my invention, as manufactured, it can be more economically shipped and stored for user in remote localities than other typesof bagsrofwthe same holdingI ca-` "The seamless knit paper-mesh tubing, or bag, is'par-` l ticularly well adapted for use in the smoking of meats suchas hams, bacon and sausages, because when it is laterally stretched to its limits, the knit paper-mesh has large openings, or apertures, or polygonally shaped windows of approximately three-eighths of an inch by threesixteenths of an inch. These large openings permit ygreat smoke penetration to the outside of the food product which increases the color and improves the maintenance qualities of the smoked meat. The flavor is also greatly improved because the surface and therinterior of the meat product is open for smoke penetration. The knitted product also possesses the power of retraction and tends to form or shape the product which it encases.

This forming or shaping quality is of extreme importance in the production and preservation of meat products, l

The seamless knit paper tubing, or bag, also possesses great tensile strength and is also particularly adaptable for use in the packaging of fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, apples, potatoes, beets, etc. yFor example, a thirty-six inch length of knitted paper tubing according to my invention has suiiicient tensile strength to encase and support a weight of thirty-tive to forty pounds, dependent upon volume and size. l

The fact that the product is seamless in character eliminates thenecessity of sewing or seaming the product longitudinally in order to make a bag. It is only necessary to close one end of the knitted tubular product to make the product into bag form.

The paper strands, or yarn, are coated with a nontoxic oil of high viscosity, or a coating with plastic properties, or else are twisted without coating, dependent upon the end use of the seamless mesh paper tubing lor bags. Coatings are applied to the product when there is a need for additional flexibility and to yminimize vtearing or fraying', or when certain curing conditions are to beimposed upon" the encased meat. The 'paper strands k are twisted and knitted into seamless tubular form. -The knitted seamless,V paper tubing, or bag, comprises` longitudinally. extending chain-like vertically directed supports coupled by transverse elements formed in coaction with the chainlike supports and which may be laterally extended into substantially polygonally shaped openings. The individual elements of the paper strands are relatively stiff and are relatively self-sustaining in a linear direction so that the bag formed from the product is not subject to being crushed into a tangled mass as is the situation with a cotton knitted bag. While the individual elements of p aper strands possess body stiffness, suicient to maintain the seamless circular tubular product in flat collapsed posi,-y tion while packed and stored, nevertheless, the elements readily move 'or slide relative to each other as the casing is extended laterally inv a ratio of approximately 1:6, that is a lateral enlargementV of the order lof six 'times the original transverse dimension of the packed product.

The product of my invention, because of its propertiesy arising out of the fact that it is knit from paper in seamless tubular form, and because of its substantial lateral eXtension of the order of six times its initial width, its unusual tensile strength, and its many special adaptations in the field of packaging and covering, is economical and practical for shipment by the manufacturer to packers for use in packaging various meat products. The knit paper product is readily shipped on circular reels and unrolled and cut to required lengths. One end of each selected length is closed as aforesaid to form the encasing bag before being stretched over the meat, or goods to be encased.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference character 1 designates a fragmentary length of a paper strand or yarn from which the seamless circular tubular knitted paper product of my invention is formed. This paper strand is approximately one-quarter of an inch in width and is formed from approximately twelve-pound stock. 'lfhenpaperstrands or yarnmmayube coated with a non-toxic oil of high viscosity, or a coating with plastic properties, by passing the yarn 1 through the coating 2,` illustrated in Fig. 2. The method illustrated is to be considered in the explanatory senserand not in the limiting sense. The strand is guided by sets of rolls 3 around the drum 4 in the coating bath 2 within the container 5. The paper strands or yarn, after being treated or coated, are passed through coacting nrubber rollers 6, spring-pressed at 7, for squeezing excess coatingtherefrom. The coated strand, or yarn, 1 is subjected to a twisting operation as illustrated in Fig. 3, the at strand or yarn being twisted into aV thread 8 of ,high tensile strength. The thread `8', thus treated, is knitted into a seamless circular tubular knitted assembly 9v illustrated in Fig. 4. The enlarged cross sectional view in Fig. 5 illustrates the seamless circular tubular characteristics of this paper product. longitudinal extension of the elements constituting the paper strand material of the seamless circular tubular knitted product. Thisv knitted product has a width in the range of two and one-half inches to three inches and may be produced in lengths of tive hundred feet, or more. The product is wound on reels for shipment from the manufacturer to the packer which greatly facilitates -the transportation problem. If containers or receptacles must be shipped in the sizes in which they are to be used the shipping cost occupied by such containers oftenr far exceeds the value of the product. By my'invention the container is shipped in collapsed form. The packer upon receipt of the seamless circular tubular knitted product9 cuts this product into sections of suitable lengths ofthe paper strand material, indicated at 10 `and 1.1, in Fig. 6.

One end of each of these sections is closed by stapling',4

sewing or gluing, as indicated at 12 Vand 13in Fig, 6. Thus,'a bag is formed from th e seamless cirular, tubular knitted product, closedat the bottoinand openatth'e top. i

view`the longitudinally" extending paper strands 0fV the paper strand material formed in longitudinally disposed loops 14, 15 and 16`having chain-like'mutually slidable connections therebetween. In the collapsed condition, of4

spreading of the longitudinally extending chain-like loopsY 14, 14a and 14b, 15, 15a and 15b, and 16, 16a and 16h,A while the transverse elements 14C, 15C and 16e slidetoward each other, resulting in the forming ot the .substantially polygonallyshaped apertures between the strands represented at 17, 18, k19 and 20, fory example. These apertures have their major axes extending increasingly Fig. 4 illustrates the predominantl In Fig. 7 VI have illustratedin anv substantially laterally to the axes of the longitudinally extending paper elements. These substantially polygonally shaped apertures are dimensioned so that the openings are approximately three-eights of an inch by three-sixteenths of an inch.

In Figs. 13-15 I have illustrated one of the important applications of the bag of my invention, that is, in the smoking of hams, bacon and sausages.

In Fig. 13 the seamless circular tubular knitted bag 10, which is stapled, sewed or glued at the bottom, indicated at 12, is laterally stretched to receive the ham 21. Due to the ability of the seamless circular tubular knitted product to stretch, the bag 10 conforms to the shape of the ham 21, and tends to form or shape by the mutual power of retraction possessed by the sliding of the chainlike loops of the paper strands which make up the bag 10. The top of the bag 10 after being conformed over the meat product is tied by means of the tie 22 which serves to close the receptacle around the meat product and to provide a support for the meat product in smokehouse operations.

In Fig. I have illustrated more clearly the application of the product of my invention for the smoking of hams, bacon and sausages, wherein the seamless circular tubular knitted bags of my invention, enclosing the food product, are illustrated at 10, suspended on hooks 23 looped over bars 24, supported on movable trucks 25/and 26. The trucks 25 and 26 move on rails 27 extending into the smokehouse 28. The rails 27 are substantially shown beneath trucks 25 and 26 for the circulation of smoke from the firebed 29 in the chamber 30, beneath the rail system 27. The enclosed food products may also be hung on assemblies such as carriers, cages or trees as is conventional in the meat packing industry and such assemblies moved on an overhead rail system suspended from the ceiling. The irebed 29 produces the required smoke under control of gas chamber 31 and suitable draft controls for circulating around the open-mesliknit paper containers 10 and through the smoke outlets 32 and 33 to the stack 34. The rebed is controlled by an attendant who has access to the chamber 30 through the ladder pit 35 and clean-out door 36.

The tensile strength of the paper seamless.r circular tubular knitted bags 10 is such that in a thirty-six inch length the paper bag may encase and supporta weight of the order of thirty-tive to forty pounds. As heretofore pointed out the large openings provided in the paper product of my invention allow greater smoke `penetration to the outside of the good product. The knitted paper strand material offers minimum obstruction to the circulation of the smoke in contact with the surface of the meat product.

Tests of comparative smokehouse time consumed in smoking hams enclosed in conventional cotton bags as compared to hams enclosed in paper seamless circular tubular knitted bags according to my invention have established that the smoking time for smoking hams enclosed in the paper seamless circular tubular knitted bags of my invention is reduced by approximately 35% as contrasted to the use of cotton bags.

In the processing of hams, it is necessary to -bring them to an internal temperature of 145 F. and it is this internal temperature that has been reached five hours or thereabouts before it was attained previously through the use of cotton bags. The color is also attained during the shorter period because of the wide mesh of the paper bag, and the avor is improved. I attribute the improvement which results from the use of the paper seamless circular tubular knitted paper bag of my invention to the fact that the paper is a relatively good conductor of heat and because so much surface is left open for heat to penetrate to the ham to reduce smoking and cooking time results. The cotton on the contrary is an insulator against heat and particularly is this true when the small mesh of the cotton bag is impregnated with the grease from the ham, thus forming a baille against heat penetration. f

While I have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments, I realize that modifications may be made and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patents of the United States, is as follows:

l. A paper knit bag comprising a seamless circular tubular knitted assembly of `twisted paper strand material extending predominately longitudinally of the axis of the bag, said knitted assembly being stretchable in a lateral direction for extending the paper strand material to pro- Ivide openings of substantially polygonal shapes having their major-V axes extending substantially transversely of the axis of the bag.

2. A paper knitbag comprising a seamless circular tubular knitted assembly formed from knitted paper strand material having linear self-sustaining characteristics of stiffness sufficient to maintain the assembly in fiat co1 lapsed position when packed, said paper strand material extending predominately longitudinally of the axis of the bag and being extendible in a lateral direction for expandingthe knitted paper strand material to provide a bag having substantially polygonally shaped apertures with themajor axes of the apertures extending substantially laterally of the bag.l

3. A paper knit bag as set forth in claim 2 in which an end of thefbag is closed by stapling.

4. A paper knit bag as set forth in claim 2 in which an end of the bag is closed by sewing.

5. A paper knit bag as set forth in claim 2 in which an end of the bag is closed by gluing.

6 A paper knit bag as set forth in claim 2 in which said knitted paper `bag is stretchable laterally for a linear distance of the order of six times the initial width of the paper knit bag.

7. A paper knit bag as set forth in claim 2 in which the polygonally shaped apertures between the paper strand material are enlargeable to dimensions of the order of three-eighths by three-sixteenths of an inch for forming free unobstructed openings through the bag formed from the paper strand material.

8. A paper knit bag as set forth in claim 2 in which the paper strands of .said paper strand material forming said seamless circular tubular knitted assembly are initially twisted before being knitted.

9. A paper knit bag as set forth in claim 2 in which the paper strands of said paper strand material forming said seamless circular tubular knitted assembly are initially coated and then twisted before being knitted.

10. A paper knit bag as set forth in claim 2 in which the strands of said paper strand material `forming said seamless circular tubular knitted assembly are initially coated with a non-toxic oil of high viscosity and then twisted before being knitted.

11. A paper knit bag as set forth in claim 2 in which the strands of said paper strand material forming said seamless circular tubular knitted assembly are initially coated with a coating having plastic properties and then twisted before Ybeing knitted.

12. A paper mesh bag for the smoking of meat and the like comprising'a seamless l,tubular knitted bag formed from twisted paper strand material, said material including longitudinally extending chain-like vertically-directed supports coupled by' transverse elements where said transverse elements lforni in coaction with said longitudinally Vextending chain-like vertically-directed supports, when the bag is laterally stretched, to provide substantially polygonally-shaped openings having vtheir major axes extending laterally for the passage of smoke from the exterior through the mesh of the bag to the meat within the References Cited inthe f11e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Culp Apr. 20, 1875 8 Dreyfus Nov. 26, 1935 Broekman et a1. Sept. 27, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 25, 1933 

